🌍We invite you to explore reports from our international mobilities, as well as research visits and workshops organized at the Institute.✨
Here you will find short summaries, photos 📸, and key experiences shared by participants who have taken part in mobilities around the world. 🌎
03/2026
In March 2026, Dr. Ilona Sekudewicz carried out a research visit at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) in Manila.
As part of the visit, she also participated in the international scientific workshop “12th Commission on Volcanic Lakes (CVL-12)”, held in Clark.
During the workshop, she presented a poster: “Sorption-driven metal immobilization: linking geochemical transitions to water pH changes”
The mobility aimed to:
The visit provided an opportunity to build international research connections and laid the foundation for long-term collaboration between ING PAN and partners in the Philippines.
02/2026
Prof. Piotr Krzywiec participated in the International Sedimentological Congress held in Wellington, New Zealand, bringing together leading sedimentology researchers from around the world.
During the congress, results of research conducted within the SeisSed research group at ING PAN were presented:
🔹 “Upper Cretaceous contourites within the Polish Basin – unique example of widespread inversion-related along-slope deposition in a tectonically active intracontinental setting” (oral presentation)
🔹 “Late Cretaceous bottom-current system along the East African transform margin” (poster; co-authored)
Both contributions were part of the session “Downslope and along slope deep marine processes – Contourites and Mixed Depositional Systems”.
The congress provided an important platform for strengthening international collaboration, including discussions with The Drifters research group. Planned joint activities, including research visits, will further expand the scope of studies carried out at ING PAN.
Research on contourites has not only fundamental scientific importance but also practical applications, as these deposits may serve as potential reservoirs for geothermal waters and play a role in CO₂ sequestration.
In addition, Prof. Krzywiec presented the objectives of the upcoming 2026–2030 term of the International Lithospheric Program Task Force VI “Sedimentary Basins”, which he recently assumed leadership of.
02/2026
PhD student Ali Nasiri participated in the Balanced Cross Sections course at Friedrich Schiller University Jena (23–27 February 2026), organized within the NAWA PROM Programme.
The course focused on advanced methods in structural geology and tectonics, combining theoretical lectures with hands-on exercises in constructing and restoring geological cross sections.
Participants developed practical skills in:
The course brought together an international group of researchers and students, creating a dynamic environment for scientific exchange and collaboration.
Beyond the academic programme, the visit also provided an opportunity to experience Jena and strengthen international connections.
02/2026
PhD Candidate Tanishka Soni took part in a training at Uppsala University, where she developed methods for analyzing seismic data from the Western Carpathians.
During the visit, she worked on seismic velocity models and further developed her skills in inversion methods and geophysical data interpretation.
The visit strengthened international collaboration and laid the foundation for future research.
It was also an opportunity to explore Uppsala – a city with a rich academic heritage.
02/2026
In February 2026, Dr Shreeja Das carried out a research visit in the Western Ghats (India), funded under the NAWA-PROM programme.
The main objective of the visit was to conduct field investigations in landslide-prone areas and to advance the application of the innovative FEMR (Fracture-Induced Electromagnetic Radiation) method for identifying near-surface fractures.
Scope of work included:
Training and teaching activities: As part of the visit, a series of lectures and workshops was delivered to Master’s students at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), focusing on landslide monitoring and early warning systems.
Outcomes of the collaboration
The visit contributed to:
The research confirmed that the key factors triggering landslides in the region include intense rainfall, steep slopes (>35°), the presence of fractures, and shallow groundwater conditions.
This marks another step toward improving our understanding of landslide processes and developing more effective monitoring and mitigation strategies.
02/2026
In February 2026, Andrei-Alexandru Smeu, a student of the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Bucharest, completed a research internship at the Stable Isotope Laboratory of the Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences (IGS PAS) in Warsaw.
During his stay, the student became familiar with analytical methods used in the laboratory and carried out isotope analyses of samples that form part of a research project investigating the Eocene–Oligocene climate transition in the Eastern and Central Paratethys.
The research initiated during the internship will be continued in collaboration with the University of Bucharest for selected areas of the Carpathians. The results will provide comparative data for selected regions of Poland and Romania, contributing to a better understanding of environmental changes in the Paratethys region during the Eocene–Oligocene transition.
This internship represents another research mobility carried out within the NAWA PROM programme, which supports international scientific collaboration and the development of early-career researchers.
02/2026
From 2–11 February 2026, Dr Anna Gumsley completed a research visit at CNRS & University of Montpellier (Geosciences Montpellier) under the supervision of Prof. Bruno Dhuime. During her visit, she gained advanced theoretical knowledge and practical expertise in in situ strontium isotope analysis of apatite using the LA-MC-ICP-MS method, as well as in data interpretation in the context of magmatic processes and crustal evolution. The visit strengthened international scientific collaboration and contributed to the development of long-term research links between ING PAN and Geosciences Montpellier. Dr Gumsley analysed, e.g., apatite crystals from pegmatites of Strzegom. Thanks to cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging made by Dr hab. Krzysztof Szopa, analytical spots were precisely located within different growth zones of apatite crystals.
01/2026
At the end of January, the GeoEco Research Group organized the Biśnik Cave Coprolite Workshop at the Research Center of IGS PAS in Warsaw.
The two-day meeting brought together researchers from multiple disciplines to explore topics related to the geology, archaeology, paleontology, ecology and—of course—coprolite research associated with Biśnik Cave.
Day 1 focused on establishing the geological and archaeological context of the site. Presentations covered the stratigraphy and excavation history of Biśnik Cave, paleontology and paleozoology of the faunal assemblages, as well as the paleoecology and taphonomy of hyena den deposits. The potential of biomarker studies in cave sediments was also discussed.
Day 2 highlighted new results from coprolite research, including multi-proxy analytical approaches, applications of paleo-metagenomics, palynological analyses of coprolites, and comparative sediment geochemistry from the Pod Oknem and Raj caves.
The workshop concluded with a discussion on future directions in coprolite research and on strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration in this field .
The participation of Freya Steinhagen (University of Tübingen) was made possible thanks to the NAWA-PROM program
01/2026
Dr. hab. Maciej Bojanowski, together with PhD candidate Iga Ryczkowska, in collaboration with Prof. Andreas Wetzel (University of Basel), conducted a scientific expedition to New Zealand. The visit included participation in the 22nd International Sedimentological Congress in Wellington as well as field investigations in the Taranaki Basin. The mobility of PhD candidate Iga Ryczkowska was carried out within the NAWA PROM programme.The research focused on carbonate ichnoconcretions associated with submarine methane seepage in Miocene deposits of the continental slope, exposed in the coastal cliffs along the Tasman Sea. These formations are exceptionally rich in trace fossils, and the studied interval includes taxa such as Scolicia, Zoophycos, Phycosiphon, Chondrites, Ophiomorpha, and Thalassinoides. Precise identification of these ichnotaxa will enable reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental conditions and assessment of the role of bioturbation in the formation of authigenic carbonates, providing new insights into sedimentary processes associated with methane seep systems.
12/2025
The study visit of PhD student Abdalhak Mahdjoub from Algeria has recently come to an end. It was carried out at the IGS PAS within the framework of the NAWA PROM programme, under the supervision of Dr hab. Przemysław Gedl.Reflecting on his stay, the participant highlights intensive scientific work, particularly on palynofacies and dinoflagellate cysts, as well as highly inspiring experiences beyond the laboratory: “My research stay at the IGS PAS was a unique opportunity to deepen my knowledge of palynofacies and dinoflagellate cysts under the guidance of highly respected specialists in the field. Beyond the intensive scientific training, the NAWA scholarship also provided me with the opportunity to explore Polish culture and its rich historical heritage. This experience became an exceptionally inspiring and transformative stage in both my scientific and personal development.”
11/2025
Prof. Anna Wysocka and Dr. Anna Filipek conducted a scientific visit to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where they collaborated with a research team led by Prof. Liu Jianguo. During the visit, they documented exposures of Eocene–Oligocene rocks in the Baise and Nanning basins. The collected materials, together with newly identified locations with high research potential, represent an important step in the development of Polish–Chinese cooperation in the field of sedimentary geology. The newly identified sites open prospects for further joint research activities in this region.
